"Lord, in this Genius Battle, our Qianwu Universe Nation has produced two geniuses who entered the Primal Secret Realm and one who entered the Absolute Beginning Secret Realm."
"I know."
Within a phantasmagorical expanse of starry space, a giant whose face remained indiscernible stood in the void. The very fabric of space around him twisted and warped with his presence. In the distance before him, the Thirteen Divine Generals stood in respectful silence.
Lord Qianwu waved his hand, and holographic recordings of Han Jue and the other two participants from the Genius Battle materialized before his eyes. He watched their performances with an analytical gaze, his expression unreadable.
"These three geniuses show considerable promise," Lord Qianwu said calmly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of disappointment. "However, it's unfortunate that none of them were personally cultivated by our Qianwu Universe Nation."
Despite the seemingly mild rebuke, cold sweat broke out across Thirteen's scaled face. The implication was clear, they had failed to identify and nurture such talents before the Virtual Universe Company discovered them.
"I humbly admit my failure, Lord!" The Thirteen Divine Generals bowed deeply, their posture radiating contrition.
"Never mind," Lord Qianwu shook his head, already dismissing the matter. His thoughts had already moved on to more practical concerns.
I wonder what rewards my clan will grant me this time for producing such talents? Perhaps I could finally repay some of those accumulated debts...
On Earth.
Han Jue stood with his family in the familiar gardens of the Han estate. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the carefully maintained grounds, lending a bittersweet quality to their farewell.
"It will be at least a hundred years before we meet again in person," Han Hesheng sighed, his voice heavy with the weight of that reality.
Thirty years in the Beginning Universe, due to its different time flow, translated to roughly a hundred years in the outside world. For mortals or even low-level cultivators, that represented an entire lifetime. Even for warriors of their level, it was an eternity.
Han Hesheng's estimate of a hundred years was actually conservative. Generally speaking, core talents of the Virtual Universe Company could only leave the company headquarters when they reached the Domain Master level and were assigned to manage territories abroad. This typically required hundreds or even thousands of years, sometimes much longer depending on the individual's progress and the company's needs.
"Don't worry, Father," Han Jue said gently, placing a reassuring hand on his father's shoulder. "I'll take good care of myself out there. You know me, I won't take unnecessary risks or suffer needless injuries."
"Alright, enough with the sentimentality," Han Hechang interrupted their emotional moment, though his eyes betrayed his own concern. "We can still meet in the Virtual Universe anytime we want. It's not as if we're being permanently separated."
He paused, his expression growing more serious. "Little Jue, listen carefully. The universe beyond Earth is nothing like what we have here. Our family's influence and protection can't reach you in the Virtual Universe Company's territory." His tone carried the weight of hard-earned wisdom. "You need to control that temper of yours and be more cautious. Don't provoke powerful beings just because you're confident in your abilities. Out there, there's always someone stronger."
"Yes, Uncle. I understand," Han Jue nodded solemnly, genuinely taking the advice to heart.
He certainly understood the principle. If you wanted to cause trouble and make enemies, you first needed backing strong enough to protect you from the consequences. Charging forward recklessly was how talented geniuses ended up as cautionary tales.
"Good. Then I'm off!" Han Jue said with a confident grin, his characteristic composure returning.
"This kid..." Han Hesheng shook his head as his son departed, his eyes slightly reddening despite his best efforts to maintain composure.
In the starry void above Earth's atmosphere, Han Jue addressed the towering aquatic being who had served as his protector.
"Gong Te'er, from now on, you will be stationed on Earth as its guardian," Han Jue instructed.
After years of working together, the two had developed a relationship built on mutual understanding and trust. Han Jue felt confident leaving Earth's protection in Gong Te'er's capable hands, or rather, his powerful tentacles.
To properly equip him for this responsibility, Han Jue had provided Gong Te'er with a complete set of fourth-tier Force weapons and Force armor. It wasn't that he couldn't afford better equipment, fifth-tier Force gear was well within his means. The limitation lay in Gong Te'er's comprehension and aptitude. The denizens of Han Jue's Divine Kingdom, while loyal and growing stronger, still lacked the fundamental understanding required to properly utilize fifth-tier equipment. Fourth-tier was the current ceiling of their capabilities.
"Thank you, Master Divine Disciple!" Gong Te'er's voice resonated with excitement and gratitude.
Finally, he would no longer be confined to the desolate environment of Huangyang Star. Earth, with its surface that was over seventy percent water, would allow him to remain comfortably submerged in the ocean depths. For an aquatic being like himself, it was practically paradise compared to his previous posting.
On Huangyang Star's landing platform, two sleek spacecraft awaited their passengers.
Although Han Jue and Luo Feng had arrived at the same location, the Virtual Universe Company had dispatched separate vessels for each of them. One could only marvel at the vast wealth and meticulous organization of such a powerful entity. The attention to detail and resources allocated to promising geniuses spoke volumes about the company's investment in future talents.
"Your Highness."
A cold, imposing man in a gray robe stood at the ship's entrance hatch. His appearance radiated an aura of aloofness, cold gaze, stern features, and an unmistakable air of someone who had walked through countless battlefields. Behind him, a contingent of World Masters, Domain Masters, and Universe-level guards stood in perfect formation, all bowing respectfully to Han Jue in perfect synchronization.
"This man is at least a Marquis-level Immortal, Master," Rimuru said, excitement coloring his usually composed voice. "It seems the Virtual Universe Company values you tremendously."
The distinction was significant. Back in the day, the Lord of the Ice Wasteland Realm, a member of merely the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, had been assigned only an ordinary World Master to lead his guard detail. Even after receiving unknown inheritances, including the Ice Wasteland Sword and other treasures toward the end of his life, he had never managed to cross that final threshold to Immortality.
Perhaps this journey to the Virtual Universe Company's core territories would finally reveal the origins and secrets of the Lord of the Ice Wasteland Realm's legacy?
Han Jue nodded slightly, acknowledging both Rimuru's observation and the greeting. He knew that geniuses from ordinary Primal Secret Realms typically received only Immortal Army Lord-level guards. Having a Marquis-level Immortal showed the company's elevated expectations for him.
"Your Highness, please board the spacecraft," the gray-robed man said. Despite his cold appearance and intimidating presence, his words carried a note of genuine respect and courtesy.
Han Jue acknowledged the invitation with a brief nod. He glanced across the landing platform where Luo Feng was receiving similar treatment, caught his friend's eye with a quick gesture of farewell, then strode confidently up the boarding ramp into his assigned vessel.
Once inside the impressive spacecraft, the gray-robed Immortal addressed him formally. "Your Highness, you may address me as Ian. I have been assigned as your guard leader for the foreseeable future. My specialization lies in the Law of the Origin of Water." He paused, allowing that information to settle. "Additionally, you will have the opportunity to select an Immortal-level teacher to provide long-term guidance in your cultivation. More details regarding teacher selection and other matters will be explained when you enter the Virtual Universe."
"Thank you for your service, Ian. I look forward to working with you," Han Jue replied courteously.
"Very good, Your Highness. Our next destination is the company headquarters within the Virtual Universe," Ian explained. "Please make yourself comfortable during the journey."
Virtual Universe, Yu Xiang Mountain.
"So this is Yu Xiang Mountain!" Rimuru exclaimed, his gelatinous form practically vibrating with excitement as they materialized in the famous virtual location.
Han Jue regarded his AI companion with amusement. "Haven't you been here before?"
"That's completely different!" Rimuru replied with exaggerated indignation. "When I visited before, I was just an ordinary intelligent being browsing around like any tourist. This is my first time here as your companion and partner. It's an entirely different experience!"
Han Jue couldn't help but laugh at Rimuru's enthusiasm. He reached out and playfully rubbed the AI's slime-like surface, earning a mock protest.
Ian, maintaining his professional demeanor despite the lighthearted exchange, led them on a comprehensive tour of Yu Xiang Mountain. He methodically explained the various facilities, training areas, and administrative structures. By the end of the tour, Han Jue had gained a solid understanding of the Virtual Universe Company's organizational structure, hierarchy, and the vast resources available to its core members.
After the general orientation, Ian brought them to a specific destination.
"This is His Highness Han Jue's personal manor in the Primal Secret Realm District, Manor Number 113," announced Aitor, the district's administrative manager, gesturing proudly toward the magnificent estate.
The manor's outer walls stretched endlessly in both directions like a continuous mountain range, extending far beyond what the eye could easily perceive. In terms of sheer area, this single manor exceeded the territory of any country on Earth by a considerable margin. The scale was simultaneously breathtaking and humbling.
After completing the Virtual Universe tour, Han Jue prepared himself for what he considered the most exciting part of his orientation: exploring the company's treasury and making purchases with his initial point allocation.
As a new member of the Primal Secret Realm, Han Jue had received a starting capital of 100,000 points. These points represented more than mere currency, they could be exchanged for treasures, techniques, and resources that were nearly impossible to obtain through any other means. Items that would cause wars between nations or drive Immortals to madness were simply listed in the treasury's catalog, waiting to be claimed by those with sufficient points.
"Hmm?" Han Jue's browsing came to an abrupt halt when he discovered something unexpected.
There, in the secret technique section of the treasury, he found his own cultivation method, "Myriad Avatars."
The listed value made his eyes widen: 12,800 points after the thirty percent discount applied to Primal Secret Realm members. Before the discount, it would have cost over 18,000 points.
"Rimuru, do you have any knowledge about how this technique ended up in the Virtual Universe Company's catalog?" Han Jue asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I have no idea, Master," Rimuru admitted, shaking his form in what passed for a headshake. "I possess no memories related to this."
The mystery deepened. Had the Lord of the Ice Wasteland Realm originally exchanged points for this technique from the company? Or had he learned it through some other means? If he'd exchanged company points for it, wouldn't the Virtual Universe Company hold him accountable for passing it on to an unauthorized recipient? The implications were concerning, though Han Jue suspected that if it were truly a problem, the company would have already addressed it.
Han Jue filed the mystery away for future investigation and continued browsing through the extensive catalog.
His primary objective in visiting the treasury was to acquire manuals on the fundamental Laws of Space. Regarding the fundamental Laws of Water, he already possessed the Ice Wasteland Lord's self-created technique, "Snow Wind." While not particularly profound compared to the highest-level techniques, it was more than sufficient for his current needs and would serve him well for years to come.
Han Jue's strategic plan involved focusing his primary efforts on comprehending the fundamental Laws of Space, forging his own unique cultivation path. This consideration extended to his upcoming choice of which Chaos Monument to study. He was leaning strongly toward the Nine Universe Chaos Monument, which specialized in spatial laws and was considered one of the most profound monuments available.
Of course, if the opportunity arose to pursue the Beast God Path, which ingeniously blended the fundamental Laws of Water and Space into a unified system, he would certainly consider it. Han Jue maintained an open and pragmatic approach to his cultivation: he would accept any path that offered genuine benefits and enhanced his overall power, regardless of whether it was his original plan.
After extensive browsing, he narrowed his choices down to two exceptional options, "Time Space Scribbles" or "Ice Peak Prologue."
"Time Space Scribbles" represented the secret method associated with the Nine Universe Chaos Monument, while "Ice Peak Prologue" was linked to the Ice Peak Chaos Monument. Both techniques fell well within Han Jue's areas of consideration and interest. The problem was straightforward but significant: his 100,000 points were only sufficient to purchase the first three volumes of one complete set, not both.
Should he spend his points immediately, or should he save them for after becoming a disciple?
Han Jue considered the question carefully. The decision seemed acceptable either way, he could make a purchase now or wait for potentially better opportunities after formal discipleship.
His mind wandered to a cautionary example. He recalled how Luo Feng, in the original timeline, had spent his initial points somewhat carelessly and then found himself unable to afford "Floating Blood" after arriving in Primal Chaos City. The technique had been crucial for his development, but his earlier expenditures had left him point-poor at a critical moment.
The memory served as a useful reminder. Perhaps patience was the wiser course.
With the qualifications and potential he had demonstrated during the Genius Battle, Han Jue felt reasonably confident that he could attract a Universe Venerable to accept him as a personal disciple. Such high-level masters often provided their disciples with resources, guidance, and sometimes direct point allocations to ensure their students had access to the techniques best suited to their paths.
Yes, waiting made strategic sense. He would hold his points in reserve and see what opportunities arose after he formally entered Primal Chaos City and potentially gained a powerful teacher.
With that decision made, Han Jue closed the treasury catalog and prepared himself mentally for the next phase of his journey. The real challenges, and opportunities, were only just beginning.